Have you joined MEIA?
The Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) recently emerged to address the disproportionate blow dealt to the artistic and cultural sectors by COVID-19. Yet its mission of safeguarding these sectors and their workforce will remain ongoing well beyond the pandemic. MEIA already represents hundreds of artists, performers and other professionals that make up the workforce of our creative industries. Through setting up an executive committee, advisory committee and various sub-committees focusing on specific areas of the sectors, including visual arts, MEIA ensures that everyone is adequately represented.
What does MEIA do?
- Raises awareness of problems within the industry & encourages feedback for its members, the community and advisory committee and sub-committees;
- Brings together all the professionals, semi-professionals as well as part-timers in the Maltese industry having different roles within the industry covering all sectors namely: Music, Theatre, Film, Art & Dance, Visual Arts, Art Education.The various roles include creators, performers, promoters, producers, suppliers & all technical people who work in the Entertainment Industry & Arts covering all different sectors. ;
- Works for the protection of the rights of all individuals and companies;
- Establishes links with other associations and unions which share the same views;
- Have all sectors, roles & genres come together under one roof representing the Malta Entertainment and Arts Industry and to have one common voice through this association:
- Run different programs, impact assessments on industry and other studies & incentives through the help of funding, whether this is national funding or EU funding, to conduct all other necessary activities in the attainment and pursuit of the MEIA’s purposes.
Check out Executive and Advisory Committee here
Visual Arts at MEIA
The visual arts sub-committee is chaired by Maria Galea and formed by members Elyse Tonna, Lily Agius, Austin Camilleri, Norbert Attard, Sandro Debono and Margerita Pulè. This sub-committee focuses on the challenges and risks that this particular community is facing in the dire situaion. However also to represent and support the sector in every aspect, encouraging collaboration and professional growth. All the members are experienced professionals in the artistic and cultural sector. The committee has been put together to reach out to it’s members and know at first- hand the challenges they are facing.
Visual Arts Subcommittee response to the current scenario
Elyse Tonna believes the pandemic highlighted and further exposed the precarious situation and general attitude towards the cultural and creative sectors. Although these have experienced significant growth over the past ten years, there seems to be significant hurdles to overcome. The lack of incentives directed towards these sectors and the slow-paced reaction and recognition that creatives are also contributors to our economy and more importantly our wellbeing, are just a couple of factors which reinforce the notion that the outlook towards the arts and culture should be improved.
The sector moves from one project to the next with no safety net to draw upon which COVID-19 has further uncovered its vulnerability. Many (if not most) artists and arts workers supplement their income through project-based (freelance) work. As soon as the pandemic hit, several such projects were abruptly postponed indefinitely or cancelled, leaving freelancers to face off with unemployment and financial uncertainty. What does this mean in relation to the current scenario?
Furthermore, Norbert Attard, founder and director of Valletta Contemporary, describes how his gallery invests large sums of money each year to bring international artists to our shores. The calendar would be set well in advance and this year was almost entirely cancelled. The gallery had to shut down and will not open again until next year. Margerita Pulè stressed on the fact that, “An active, healthy and relevant arts sector is vital to the social and intellectual well-being of any society.”
A survival plan is important however we strongly believe that a recovery plan is what will keep the sector going and aiming for the future. COVID-19 has taken away far more than financial stability or cancelled plans, it has affected the artists identity and productivity. Our so-called art industry has been in need of new policies for years. This now goes beyond being a need, it is probably the only solution.
Join as a member
As a practising artist and member of the artistic community, you are invited and strongly encouraged to become a member of MEIA. We are stronger together and want to make sure that everyone’s voices are heard and concerns taken seriously. For more information, visit MEIA’s website and follow MEIA on Facebook.
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